HC Deb 12 May 1992 vol 207 cc76-7W
Mr. Janner

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what percentage of officers in grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, respectively, and overall in his Department are members of ethnic minorities.

Mr. Nelson

The information requested in respect of grades 1 to 7 in the Treasury is shown in the table. Ethnic origin data is held for 87 per cent. of Treasury staff and of this total 8 per cent. are from ethnic minorities. Figures reflect the position as at 1 January 1992 and are for non-industrials only, including agency staff.

Ethnic minorities
Grade Number Per cent.
1 and 1A — —
2 — —
3 — —
4 — —
5 — —
6 — —
7 2 1

Mr. Janner

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to recruit members of ethnic minorities in top grades of employment at Her Majesty's Treasury and other departments within his responsibility.

Mr. Nelson

Recruitment to senior grades of the civil service is undertaken by the Recruitment and Assessment Services agency on behalf of the Civil Service Commissioners. Various steps have been taken by these bodies and by the Chancellor's departments to aid recruitment of members of ethnic minorities including increasing contacts with minority communities including image-building publicity in the ethnic minority press; extending links with polytechnics, universities and tertiary colleges to attract a wider range of applicants generally and specifically from ethnic minority communities; increasing representation of ethnic minorities among career liaison staff and on selection panels; ensuring that recruitment brochures reflect a multi-racial work force; organising equal opportunities training for those involved in selection; and using validated selection procedures to ensure that selection is fair and non-discriminatory.

Mr. Janner

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when his Department last conducted a survey of the ethnic origin of its employees; when it next plans to do so; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Nelson

A survey of members of Treasury staff for whom no ethnic origins information was held was undertaken in December 1990. The total proportion of Treasury staff for whom ethnic origin data is held now stands at 87 per cent. Consideration is being given to whether a further survey should be conducted to try and increase the coverage of the Department's ethnic origin database.